Rodgers retires, but will continue at cupboard

By DONNA SCHILL CLEVELAND, Ledger staff writer | Dec 12, 2012

Photo by: JULIE JOHNSTON/Ledger photoPauline Rodgers was feted at Pizza Ranch Tuesday to honor her 25 years with the Lord’s Cupboard. Rodgers first was a volunteer and has been the coordinator for the past 20 years. Her framed certificate reads: “This certificate has been presented to Pauline Rodgers for Outstanding Accmplishment in 25 years of dedicated services to the Lord’s Cupboard.”

Even as The Lord’s Cupboard coordinator Pauline Rodgers celebrates 20 years of service to the food pantry after a retirement party Tuesday at Pizza Ranch, she let it be known her work is far from done.

“I’m not really retiring,” said Rodgers. “I would hate to give it up. I enjoy helping people and will do it as long as I can.”

Rodgers said she will once again work as a volunteer at Jefferson County’s emergency food pantry. She will be helping in the same capacity as when she first got involved in 1992 several years after her husband died.

Rodgers, a lifelong resident of Fairfield, said she chose The Lord’s Cupboard because of its direct impact in helping the county’s most disadvantaged.

“The Lord’s Cupboard does a good job with that,” she said. “It gives people food when they have a need; it’s a good thing to do.”

The Lord’s Cupboard offers a week’s supply of food for needy individuals or families once every three months. The cupboard also provides day-old bread and rolls once a week, donated by Fairfield Hy-Vee Food and Drug Store.

Rodgers became coordinator after several years of volunteer work, ordering food, managing donations and coordinating volunteer hours to keep the facility running smoothly and consistently.

During her time at the pantry, Rodgers said the charity has steadily offered more to the community. Rodgers said there are currently 15 volunteers.

“We help much more people now, we keep more products and there’s a lot more people helping than there used to be,” she said.

One of the pantry’s volunteers, Frieda Dill helped plan Rodgers’ retirement party as a surprise for a coordinator who she said has been “very wise” with the pantry’s finances.

“The Lord’s Cupboard exists entirely on donations, and she was a very good steward of all of the community’s donation,” said Dill. “She made everything go as far as possible.”

Dill said she also appreciates Rodgers for her thoughtfulness, bringing in her favorite cookies, oatmeal chocolate chip, for all of the volunteers during the holiday season.

“She is always pleasant and thankful with volunteers,” she said.

Laura Cohen, will be taking over Rodgers responsibilities as coordinator for the cupboard. Dill said Cohen has experience working with other regional charities.